Veteran Nigerian rapper Michael Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has dismissed reports claiming he was arrested over financial misconduct alongside fellow artists Zaaki Azzay, Sunny Neji, Boniface Itodo, and Fega Michaels.

In a video shared on his Instagram page on Saturday, Ruggedman called the allegations “completely false” and accused Pretty Okafor, the recently suspended former president of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), of launching a smear campaign against him.

“The story that I was arrested for stealing money is fake. It’s a smear campaign by a disgruntled individual,” Ruggedman stated.

He explained that the allegations originated from a petition filed by Okafor following his suspension by PMAN’s National Working Committee (NWC), of which Ruggedman and the others named are members.

“This petition isn’t about us stealing money. It concerns funds allegedly missing from the PMAN office claims that remain unverified,” he said.

Ruggedman emphasized that no money was found with him or any of the others mentioned. He also pointed out that some of the accused, such as Sunny Neji and Zaaki Azzay, weren’t even in Lagos at the time the incident was alleged to have occurred.

He issued a stern warning to media outlets propagating the story.

“I advise you to take down those publications before I sue for defamation. You’re sharing misinformation.”

Reaffirming his commitment to advocacy and transparency, Ruggedman said the accusations are baseless attacks intended to damage his reputation.